Game apparatus



No. 625,999. Patented May 30,1899.

A. H. BOSTLEY.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 4, 1898.)

4N0 Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTOR Altorney EMS/m1 9 m i, if";

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS H. BOSTLEY, OF SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 625,999, dated May 30, 1899. Application filed November 4, 1898. Serial No. 695,500. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS I-I. BosTLEY, a citizen of the United'States of America, residing in South Williamsport, in the county of Lycoming, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to game apparatus; and the object is to provide a new and useful game which embodies the qualities or characteristics of skill, entertainment, amusement, and instruction; and the invention consists of a game-board marked or ruled off into sections and squares in the order and arrangement hereinafter specified and sets of playing pieces or men disposed in stated initial arrangement and capable of divers movements to constitute a contest or game, ultimately resulting in victory of one side and defeat of the other.

The invention is fully shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view'of-a game-board, illustrating the particular arrangement of the diagrammatic sections and the squares composing the opposing fields, the pieces or men being shown in proper initial position on each section of the board. Fig. 2 shows one set of the men or playing-pieces.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the board on which the men are arranged and the movements deemed essential to the game made by the respective players. This board is rectangular in superficial area and made of any suitable material adapted for the purpose.

The fields or sections B O of the board are identical in arrangement, but of opposing disposition, so: as to bring the goal-squares directly opposite each other, as shown. Each field or section consists of thirty-three squares arranged in three contiguous lines of eleven squares each, three central squares disposed on the inner line of the main board or tiers and the central goal-square resting on the tier of the three, as shown. Thebase or central line a of squares of each section is that on which the opposing pieces or men are placed preliminary to the optional movements thereof, the pieces being placed or disposed in alternation, beginning at the lower righthand square of each section and extending the disposition, as shown in Fig. 1. The second line ortier b of each section constitutes what I call the danger-line, which extends to and includes the four consecutive squares of the tier or line and on which, if a piece rests when the opposing player reaches an opposite square of the outer main line, the man on the danger-square must retreat to the base-line of squares. The three central squares of this second or danger line are of the same dignity and security as those of the initial or base lines. 0 designates the inner line or tier of squares on which, if-a man or piece be stationed, the opposing player cannot move the man to corresponding opposite square without subjecting. it to capture and removal from the board. The three central squares d are of equal dignity and being reached by one player the opposing player cannot place or move a man on correspond ing opposite squares without capture and removal from the board. The goal-square e being reached, the game is won. The squares may be of any color desired and the men may be ornamented as ones taste may dictate. The men preferably consist of disks of any suitable material.

The movements of the pieces may be directly forward and laterally from one square to the next adjacent, but not diagonally.

For the purpose of further exemplifying and illustrating the game let it be supposed .that the squares of each section of the board be numbered from 1 to 37, beginning with the lower right-hand square of the initial line,

and thence to the left and back and forth on the board, and the men being numbered as from 1 to 6 on each board a game may be playedand be reported, substantially as follows': White. Black.

(9) 1.,25. (9) 6.. 9. (10 1..26.' (10)3..27. (11 4.. 29. (11) 3..36,X4W0n34. (12) 4..34. (12) 4..29. (13)4..35. (13)6.. s (14) 4t. .37 and wins.

Analyzing and explaining the decisive moves in this game, it will be seen that on Whites fifth move to square 20 the man is captured and removed from the board by blacks fifth move to his square 30. On whites seventh move to square 23, black having a man 6 on danger-line square 12, black must retreat to initial square 11. Nhites ninth move places a man on 25 and is safe for the present. lVhites move ten to his square 26 captures blacks man on square 30. vVhites twelfth move captures blaeks man on square 36, and the subsequent moves of White being unimpeded he reaches the goal and wins the game.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A game-board consisting of two fields of squares in counter arrangement at opposite sides of the board with a vacant space between the fields and each field composed of three contiguous rows of squares of equal number each, a row of three centrally-disposed squares in each field on and extending beyond and inwardly from the inner line of the inner row of coincident squares, and a central or goal square on each field, disposed and extending beyond the middle square of the row of three squares, combined With playing-pieces placed initially in alternation on the first rowof squares of each field, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

AUGUSTUS II. BOSTLEY.

Witnesses:

S. H. DRINKUATER, WM. L. ELLINGER. 

